Antenna solution for wireless power transfer-near field communication enabled communication device

ABSTRACT

Various configurations and arrangements of various communication devices and antenna solutions are disclosed. Antenna solutions disclosed herein include a single inductive coupling element configured to resonate at a variety of resonant frequencies suitable for WPT and/or NFC communications. Resonant circuits can be provided for tuning the inductive coupling element to resonant at specific resonant frequency. The antenna solutions can be employed in WPT/NFC enabled communication devices capable of WPT and NFC communication.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This patent application is a continuation of U.S. patent applicationSer. No. 13/730,760, filed Dec. 28, 2012, now U.S. Pat. No. 9,031,502,which claims benefit to U.S. Patent Application No. 61/727,642 filed onNov. 16, 2012. U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/730,760 isincorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure relates generally to a single coil antennasolution for implementing both wireless power transfer (WPT) and nearfield communication (NFC) within the communication device.

BACKGROUND

Mobile wireless communication devices such as cellular telephones,two-way radios, personal digital assistants (PDAs), personal computers(PCs), tablet computers, laptop computers, home entertainment equipment,radio frequency (RF) identification (RFID) readers, RFID tags, etc. haveevolved from large devices focused on a single application or use, suchas analog voice communications, to comparatively smaller devices thatare capable of and used for many different things such as digital voicecommunications and digital data communications, e.g., Short MessageService (SMS) for text messaging, email, packet switching for access tothe Internet, gaming, Bluetooth®, Multimedia Messaging Service (MMS) andsecure transaction capability to provide some examples. In addition tothese capabilities, the mobile wireless communication devices of todayhave additional non-communication related capabilities, such audioand/or video recording to provide an example, and software applications,such as a calendar and a phone book, to provide some examples. In orderto make recharging the power source in these mobile wirelesscommunication devices easier, manufacturers have begun placing WPTcapabilities in these mobile wireless communication devices to allowthem to be recharged from an external wireless power source without theuse of a wired connection.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

For a more complete understanding of example embodiments of the presentinvention, reference is now made to the following descriptions taken inconnection with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 illustrates a block diagram of a first exemplary WPT/NFC enabledcommunication device according to an exemplary embodiment of the presentdisclosure;

FIG. 2 further illustrates the block diagram of the first exemplaryWPT/NFC enabled communication device according to an exemplaryembodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 3 illustrates an exemplary front end module that can be implementedwithin the first exemplary WPT/NFC enabled communication deviceaccording to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIGS. 4a, b, and c illustrate exemplary schematic representations of asingle inductive coupling element antenna for implementing WPT and NFCin accordance with various embodiments; and

FIG. 5 illustrates an exemplary schematic representation of a duelresonant circuit for implementing WPT and NFC in accordance with variousembodiments of the present disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DISCLOSURE

FIG. 1 illustrates a block diagram of one exemplary WPT/NFC enabledcommunication device according to an exemplary embodiment of the presentdisclosure. A WPT/NFC enabled communication device 100 may communicateinformation over wireless communication networks in accordance withvarious communication standards. The WPT/NFC enabled communicationdevice 100 can represent a mobile communication device, such as acellular phone or a smartphone, a mobile computing device, such as atablet computer or a laptop computer, or any other electronic devicethat is capable of communicating information over communication networksthat will be apparent to those skilled in the relevant art(s) withoutdeparting from the spirit and scope of the present disclosure.

The WPT/NFC enabled communication device 100 can include a NFC/WPTmodule 102, a Bluetooth® Module 104, a Global Position System (GPS)module 106, a cellular module 108, a secure element 110, a hostprocessor 112, a wireless local area network (WLAN) module 114, or anycombination thereof which are communicatively coupled to one another viaa communication interface 116. The WPT/NFC enabled communication device100 can also include an NFC/WPT antenna 118, a Bluetooth® antenna 120, aGPS antenna 122, a cellular antenna 124, and a WLAN antenna 126. Itshould be noted that the WPT/NFC enabled communication device 100 neednot include all of: the NFC/WPT module 102, the Bluetooth® Module 104,the GPS module 106, the cellular module 108, the secure element 110, thehost processor 112, the WLAN module 114, communication interface 116,the NFC/WPT antenna 118, the Bluetooth® antenna 120, the GPS antenna122, the cellular antenna 124, and/or the WLAN antenna 126. Thoseskilled in the relevant art(s) will recognize that other configurationsand arrangements of the WPT/NFC enabled communication device 100 arepossible without departing from the spirit and scope of the presentdisclosure. Additionally, those skilled in the relevant art(s) will alsorecognize that the NFC/WPT module 102, the Bluetooth® Module 104, theGPS module 106, the cellular module 108, the secure element 110, thehost processor 112, and/or the WLAN module 114 need not necessarily becommunicatively coupled to one another via the communication interface116. In these situations, those modules that are communicatively coupledto the communication interface 116 can independently communicate withother communication enabled devices without internal communication.

The NFC/WPT module 102 can be configured to provide wirelesscommunications between the WPT/NFC enabled communication device 100 andanother NFC capable device in accordance with various NFC standards. TheNFC/WPT module 102 can be configured to operate in an initiator orreader mode of operation to initiate communications with another NFCcapable device, or in a target or tag mode of operation to receivecommunications from another NFC capable device. Additionally, theNFC/WPT module 102 may derive or harvest power from communicationsreceived from this other NFC capable device when operating in the tagmode of operation. The power derived or harvested from the receivedcommunications can sometimes be adequate to operate the NFC/WPT module102 and/or the secure element 110.

Additionally, the NFC/WPT module 102 can be configured to support WPTfrom a wireless power transmitter, the NFC controller or another similarelectronic device that emits a magnetic field. The NFC/WPT module 102may derive or harvest power from a received WPT signal, such as amagnetic resonance that is provided by the wireless power transmitter.This power that is derived or harvested from the received WPT signal cansometimes be adequate to operate at least the NFC/WPT module 102, and/orthe device battery and/or the secure element 110.

As explained in more detail below, the NFC/WPT module 102 communicateswith other NFC/WPT enabled devices through the NFC/WPT antenna 118. Insome embodiments, NFC and WPT may be accomplished at differentfrequencies which may coexist. For example, Near Field Communicationsmay be conducted at 13.56 MHz while Wire Power Transfer may beconducted, in the 100-250 kHz range or at 6.7 MHz. In variousembodiments, the NFC/WPT antenna 118 can be configured as a single coildesigned to resonate at both the NFC frequency and the WPT frequency.

The Bluetooth® Module 104 can be configured to provide wirelesscommunications between the WPT/NFC enabled communication device 100 andanother Bluetooth® capable device through the Bluetooth® antenna 120 inaccordance with various Bluetooth® or Bluetooth® Low Energy (BLE)standards. The Bluetooth® Module 104 can be configured to operate in amaster mode of operation to initiate communications with anotherBluetooth® capable device or in a slave mode of operation to receivecommunications from another Bluetooth® capable device.

The GPS Module 106 can be configured to receive various signals fromvarious satellites through the GPS antenna 122, and to calculate aposition of the WPT/NFC enabled communication device 100 based on thereceived signals. The GPS Module 106 may be implemented using a GlobalNavigation Satellite System (GNSS) receiver which can be configured touse the GPS, GLONASS, Galileo and/or Beidou systems for calculating theposition of the WPT/NFC enabled communication device 100.

The cellular module 108 can be configured to provide wirelesscommunication through the cellular antenna 124 between the WPT/NFCenabled communication device 100 and another cellular capable deviceover a cellular network in accordance with various cellularcommunication standards such as a Generation Partnership Project (3GPP)Long Term Evolution (LTE) communications standard, a fourth generation(4G) mobile communications standard, or a third generation (3G) mobilecommunications standard to provide some examples. The cellular module108 may communicate with one or more transceivers, referred to as basestations or access points, within the cellular network to provide voiceand/or data communications between the WPT/NFC enabled communicationdevice 100 and another cellular capable device. The transceivers may beconnected to a cellular telephone exchange that connects to a publictelephone network or to another cellular telephone exchange within thecellular network.

The secure element 110 can be configured to securely store applicationsand/or information such as payment information, authenticationinformation, ticketing information, and/or marketing information toprovide some examples, within the WPT/NFC enabled communication device100, and to provide for an environment for secure execution of theseapplications. The secure element 110 can be implemented as a separatesecure smart card chip, in, among other things, a subscriber identitymodule (SIM)/Universal Integrated Circuit Card (UICC), or a securedigital (SD) card that can be inserted in the WPT/NFC enabledcommunication device 100.

The host processor 112 can be configured to control overall operationand/or configuration of the WPT/NFC enabled communication device 100.The host processor 112 may receive information from, among other things,a user interface such as a touch-screen display, an alphanumeric keypad,a microphone, a mouse, a speaker, and/or from other electrical devicesor host devices that are coupled to the WPT/NFC enabled communicationdevice 100. The host processor 112 can be configured to provide thisinformation to the NFC/WPT module 102, the Bluetooth® Module 104, theGPS module 106, the cellular module 108, the secure element 110, and/orthe WLAN module 114. Additionally, the host processor 112 can beconfigured to receive information from the NFC/WPT module 102, theBluetooth® Module 104, the Global Position System (GPS) module 106, thecellular module 108, the secure element 110, and/or the WLAN module 114.The host processor 112 may provide this information to the userinterface, to other electrical devices or host devices, and/or to theNFC/WPT module 102, the Bluetooth® Module 104, the GPS module 106, thecellular module 108, the secure element 110, and/or the WLAN module 114via the communication interface 116. Further, the host processor 112 canbe configured to execute one or more applications such as SMS for textmessaging, electronic mailing, and/or audio and/or video recording toprovide some examples, and/or software applications such as a calendarand/or a phone book to provide some examples.

The WLAN module 114 can be configured to provide wireless communicationsbetween the WPT/NFC enabled communication device 100 and another WLANcapable device over a wired communication network and/or via the WLANantenna 126 to a wireless communication network in accordance withvarious networking protocols such a Worldwide Interoperability forMicrowave Access (WiMAX) communications standard or a WiFi™communications standard to provide some examples. The WLAN module 114can operate as an access point to provide communications between otherWLAN capable devices and a communication network, or as a client tocommunicate with another access point, such as a wireless router toprovide an example, to access the communication network.

The communication interface 116 can be configured to route variouscommunications between the NFC/WPT module 102, the Bluetooth® Module104, the GPS module 106, the cellular module 108, the secure element110, the host processor 112, and/or the WLAN module 114. Thesecommunications can include various digital signals, such as one or morecommands and/or data to provide some examples, various analog signals,such as direct current (DC) currents and/or voltages to provide someexamples, or any combination thereof. The communication interface 116,as well as other communication interfaces that are discussed below, canbe implemented as a series of wireless interconnections between theNFC/WPT module 102, the Bluetooth® Module 104, the GPS module 106, thecellular module 108, the secure element 110, the host processor 112,and/or the WLAN module 114. The interconnections of the communicationinterface 116, as well as interconnections of other communicationinterfaces that are discussed below, can be arranged to form a parallelarchitecture interface to carry communications between various modulesof the WPT/NFC enabled communication device 100 in parallel usingmultiple conductors, a resonant interface to carry communicationsbetween various modules of the WPT/NFC enabled communication device 100using a single conductor, or any combination thereof. A WPT/NFC enabledcommunication device, such as the WPT/NFC enabled communication device100 to provide an example, may include one or more integrated circuitsthat can be configured and arranged to form one or more modules, such asthe NFC/WPT module 102, the Bluetooth® Module 104, the GPS module 106,the cellular module 108, the secure element 110, the host processor 112,and/or the WLAN module 114 to provide some examples.

FIG. 2 further illustrates a block diagram of an exemplary WPT/NFCenabled communication device according to an exemplary embodiment of thepresent disclosure. A WPT/NFC enabled communication device 200 caninclude one or more integrated circuits that can be configured andarranged to form one or more modules that are used to communicateinformation over wireless communication networks in accordance withvarious communication standards. The WPT/NFC enabled communicationdevice 200 may include an NFC/WPT module 202, a cellular module 204, anda secure element 206 which can be communicatively coupled to one anothervia a communication interface 208. An NFC/WPT antenna 210 can beconnected to the NFC/WPT module 202 and a cellular antenna 212 can beconnected to the cellular module 204. The WPT/NFC enabled communicationdevice 200 can represent another exemplary embodiment of the WPT/NFCenabled communication device 100 of FIG. 1. As such, the NFC/WPT module202, the cellular module 204, the secure element 206, and thecommunication interface 208 can represent an exemplary embodiment of theNFC/WPT module 102, the cellular module 108, the secure element 110, andthe communication interface 116, respectively. Additionally, the WPT/NFCenabled communication device 200 may further include a Bluetooth®Module, a GPS module, a host processor, and/or a WLAN module such as theBluetooth® Module 104, the GPS module 106, the host processor 112,and/or the WLAN module 114, respectively, of FIG. 1. The Bluetooth®Module, the GPS module, the host processor, and/or the WLAN module maybe communicatively coupled to the NFC/WPT module 202, the cellularmodule 204, and/or the secure element 206 via the communicationinterface 208.

The NFC/WPT module 202 can be configured to provide wirelesscommunications between the WPT/NFC enabled communication device 200 andanother NFC capable device in accordance with various NFC standards inthe reader or in the tag mode of operations, as well as WPT from awireless power transmitter in a substantially similar manner as theNFC/WPT module 102. The NFC/WPT module 202 can include a front endmodule (FEM) 214 and/or an NFC controller 216. In one embodiment, theFEM 214 can be configured as an RF front end, such as, for example, ananalog high voltage system possibly based on a generally larger gateprocess, in conjunction with a digital back-end, such as, for example, alow voltage system possibly based on a generally small gate process.

FEM 214 can be configured to provide an interface between the NFC/WPTmodule 202 and another NFC capable device and/or the wireless powertransmitter. The front end module 214 can receive a WPT signal 254 fromthe wireless power transmitter through the NFC/WPT antenna 210. The FEM214 can be configured to derive or harvest power from a received WPTsignal 254, and provide harvested WPT power to a front end modulecommunication interface (FEM-CI) 256 for routing to the NFC/WPT module202, the cellular module 204, the secure element 206 and/or othermodules within the WPT/NFC enabled communication device 200 via thecommunications interface 208. In an exemplary embodiment, thecommunication interface 208 can be configured to route the harvested WPTpower from the FEM-CI 256 to a power management unit (PMU) 218 of thecellular module 204.

Additionally, when the NFC/WPT module 202 is operating in the readermode of operation, the FEM 214 can be configured to generate a magneticfield, sometimes referred to as a transmitted NFC communication signal260, which can be modulated by another NFC capable device withinformation to form an NFC communication signal 258 that may be receivedby the FEM 214/NFC/WPT module 202. The FEM 214 can also modulate themagnetic field with information, such as data and/or one or morecommands, that is received from a front end module controller(FEM-CTRLR) communication interface 262 to form the transmitted NFCcommunication signal 260 when the NFC/WPT module 202 is operating in thereader mode of operation. Alternatively, when the NFC/WPT module 202 isoperating in the tag mode of operation, the FEM 214 can be configured toinductively receive an NFC communication signal 260 which may representa magnetic field generated by another NFC capable device that can bemodulated with information. The FEM 214 can also modulate the magneticfield with information, such as data and/or one or more commands, thatis received from a FEM-CTRLR communication interface 262 to form thetransmitted NFC communication signal 260 when the NFC/WPT module 202 isoperating in the tag mode of operation. The FEM 214 can be configured toderive or harvest power from the received NFC communication signal 260and provide the harvested NFC power to the NFC controller 216 via theFEM-CTRLR communication interface 262.

The FEM 214 can be configured to recover and then provides informationfrom the received NFC communication signal 256 to the NFC controller 216via the FEM-CTRLR communication interface 262 when the NFC/WPT module202 is operating in the reader and tag modes of operation. Specifically,the FEM 214 may convert its own magnetic field when the NFC/WPT module202 is operating in the reader mode of operation or the magnetic fieldgenerated by another NFC capable device when the NFC/WPT module 202 isoperating in the tag mode of operation into a voltage and/or a current,and recover the information from the voltage and/or the current.

The NFC controller 216 can control overall operation and/orconfiguration of the NFC/WPT module 202. The NFC controller 216 can beconfigured to receive information and/or the harvested NFC power fromthe FEM 214 via the FEM-CTRLR communication interface 262. Additionally,the NFC controller 216 can route the information and/or the harvestedNFC power from the FEM-CTRLR communication interface 262 to a controllercommunication interface (CTRLR-CI) 264 for routing to the NFC/WPT module202, the cellular module 204, the secure element 206, and/or othermodules within the WPT/NFC enabled communication device 200 via thecommunication interface 208. Further, the NFC controller 216 can receiveinformation from the NFC/WPT module 202, the cellular module 204, thesecure element 206, and/or other modules within the WPT/NFC enabledcommunication device 200 via the CTRLR-CI 264. The NFC controller 216can route the information received from the CTRLR-CI 264 to the FEM 214via the FEM-CTRLR communication interface 262. Further, the NFCcontroller 216 can execute one or more commands provided by theinformation from the FEM-CTRLR communication interface 262 and/or theCTRLR-CI 264 to control overall operation and/or configuration of theNFC/WPT module 202.

The cellular module 204 can be configured to provide wirelesscommunication between the WPT/NFC enabled communication device 200 andanother cellular capable device over a cellular network in accordancewith various cellular communication standards in a substantially similarmanner as the cellular module 108. The cellular module 204 can includethe PMU 218, a baseband module 220, a radio frequency module 222 and acellular antenna 212.

The PMU 218 may be configured to take responsibly for battery and powersystem management of the cellular module 204 and/or the WPT/NFC enabledcommunication device 200. The PMU 218 can be configured to receivevarious power signals from the NFC/WPT module 202, the cellular module204, the secure element 206, and/or other modules within the WPT/NFCenabled communication device 200 from the communication interface 208via a PMU-CI communication interface 266. In one exemplary embodiment,the PMU 218 can be configured to receive the harvested WPT power fromthe NFC/WPT module 202 via the PMU-CI communication interface 266. Inthis exemplary embodiment, the PMU 218 can use the harvested WPT powerto form various power signals and route these various power signals tothe PMU-CI communication interface 266 to provide power to the NFC/WPTmodule 202, the secure element 206, and/or other modules within theWPT/NFC enabled communication device 200 via the communication interface208. The PMU 218 can also be configured to monitor the power signalsreceived from the PMU-CI communication interface 266 to monitor current,voltages, and/or temperature readings within the WPT/NFC enabledcommunication device 200. Additionally, the PMU 218 can be configured touse the power signals received from the PMU-CI communication interface266 to monitor power connections and battery charges and/or to chargebatteries when necessary. Further, the PMU 218 can be configured to usethe power signals received from the PMU-CI communication interface 266to control and/or to provide other power signals to the PMU-CIcommunication interface 266 to provide power to the NFC/WPT module 202,the secure element 206, and/or other modules within the WPT/NFC enabledcommunication device 200 via the communication interface 208.

The baseband module 220 can be configured to control operation of thecellular module 204. The baseband module 220 may receive informationfrom the RF module 222 via a broadband-radio frequency module (BB-RFM)communication interface 264. Additionally, the baseband module 220 canbe configured to provide the information from the BB-RFM communicationinterface 264 to a baseband communication interface (BB-CI) 270 forrouting to the NFC/WPT module 202, the secure element 206, and/or othermodules within the WPT/NFC enabled communication device 200 via thecommunication interface 208. Further, the baseband module 220 can beconfigured to receive information from the NFC/WPT module 202, thesecure element 206, and/or other modules within the WPT/NFC enabledcommunication device 200 from the communications interface 208 via theBB-CI 270. The baseband module 220 can route the information receivedfrom the BB-CI 270 to the RF module 222 via the BB-RFM communicationinterface 26. Further, the baseband module 220 can be configured toexecute one or more commands provided by the information from the BB-RFMcommunication interface 264 and/or the BB-CI 270 to control overalloperation and/or configuration of the cellular module 204.

The RF module 222 can be configured to downconvert, demodulate, and/ordecode a received cellular communication signal 274 to provideinformation to the baseband module 220 via the BB-RFM communicationinterface 264. The RF module 222 can convert the received cellularcommunication signal 274 from an analog representation to a digitalrepresentation. The RF module 222 can also be configured to upconvert,modulate, and/or encode information received from the baseband module220 via the BB-RFM communication interface 264 to provide a transmittedcellular communication signal 276. The RF module 222 can also convertthe information received from the BB-RFM communication interface 264from a digital representation to an analog representation.

The secure element 206 can be configured to securely store applicationsand/or information within the WPT/NFC enabled communication device 200and provide for an environment for secure execution of theseapplications in a substantially similar manner as the secure element110. The secure element 206 can also be configured to receive theapplications and/or the information from the NFC/WPT module 202, thecellular module 204, and/or other modules within the WPT/NFC enabledcommunication device 200 from the communication interface 208 via aSecure Element communications interface (SE-CI) 272. The secure element206 can provide the information and/or other information generated bythe applications to the SE-CI 272 for routing onto the NFC/WPT module202, the cellular module 204, and/or other modules within the WPT/NFCenabled communication device 200 via the communication interface 208.

FIG. 3 illustrates one exemplary FEM that can be implemented within anexemplary WPT/NFC enabled communication device according to exemplaryembodiments of the present disclosure. An FEM 300 can be configured toprovide an interface between a WPT/NFC enabled communication device,such as the WPT/NFC enabled communication device 100 or the WPT/NFCenabled communication device 200 to provide some examples, and an NFCcapable device and/or a wireless power transmitter. The FEM 300 can beconfigured to inductively receive various signals from the NFC capabledevice and/or the wireless power transmitter, and recover informationand various power signals from these various signals. The FEM 300 caninclude an NFC modulator module 302, an antenna module 304, an NFCdemodulator module 306, an NFC power harvesting module 308, and a WPTpower harvesting module 310. The FEM 300 can also represent an exemplaryembodiment of FEM 214.

The NFC modulator module 302 can be configured to modulate transmissioninformation 350 onto a carrier wave, such as an RF carrier wave usingany suitable analog or digital modulation technique to provide amodulated information signal 352 when the WPT/NFC enabled communicationdevice is operating in the reader mode of operation. One commonly usedcarrier wave frequency for NFC applications is 13.56 MHz, however, otherfrequencies can be used without departing from the spirit and scope ofthe present disclosure. Suitable analog or digital modulation techniquesmay include, among others, amplitude modulation (AM), frequencymodulation (FM), phase modulation (PM), phase shift keying (PSK),frequency shift keying (FSK), amplitude shift keying (ASK), quadratureamplitude modulation (QAM) and/or any other suitable modulationtechnique that will be apparent to those skilled in the relevant art(s).The transmission information 350 can be received from other modules ofthe WPT/NFC enabled communication device over a communication interface,such as the FEM-CTRLR communication interface 262 to provide an example.In some situations, the NFC modulator module 302 can simply provide thecarrier wave as the modulated information signal 352. Additionally, theNFC modulator module 302 can be configured to modulate the transmissioninformation 350 using the suitable analog or digital modulationtechnique to provide the modulated information signal 352 when theWPT/NFC enabled communication device is operating in the tag mode ofoperation.

The antenna module 304 can be configured to inductively receive the WPTsignal 254 from the wireless power transmitter to provide a recoveredWPT signal 360 and/or the received NFC communication signal 258 fromanother NFC capable device to provide a recovered NFC communicationsignal 354. As described in more detail below, in various exemplaryembodiments, the antenna module 304 can comprise a single inductivecoupling element such as a coil that can be tuned by a resonant tunedcircuit to resonate at a first frequency which is suitable for receivinga WPT signal 254 and tuned by the resonant tuned circuit to resonate ata second frequency which is suitable for receiving an NFC communicationsignal 258. For example, the resonant frequency could be betweenapproximately 100 kHz and 250 kHz or at 6.7 MHz to receive the receivedWPT signal 254 and the second resonant frequency could be approximately13.56 MHz to receive the received NFC communication signal 258.

Additionally, the antenna module 304 can be configured to provide thetransmitted NFC communication signal 260 based upon the modulatedinformation signal 352. When the WPT/NFC enabled communication device isoperating in the reader mode of operation, the antenna module 304 canapply the modulated information signal 352 to the single inductivecoupling element to generate a magnetic field that represents thetransmitted NFC communication signal 260. Alternatively, the antennamodule 304 can apply the modulated information signal 352 to the singleinductive coupling element to modulate a magnetic field that isinductively coupled the single inductive coupling element with themodulated information signal 352 to provide the transmitted NFCcommunication signal 260.

The NFC demodulator module 306 can be configured to demodulate therecovered NFC communication signal 354 to extract a recoveredinformation signal 356 that was modulated using any suitable analog ordigital modulation technique. The suitable analog or digital modulationtechnique may include, among others, amplitude modulation (AM).frequency modulation (FM), phase modulation (PM), phase shift keying(PSK), frequency shift keying (FSK), amplitude shift keying (ASK),quadrature amplitude modulation (QAM) and/or any other suitablemodulation technique that will be apparent to those skilled in therelevant art(s). The recovered information signal 356 can be provided toother modules of the WPT/NFC enabled communication device over acommunication interface, such as the FEM-CTRLR communication interface262 to provide an example.

The NFC power harvesting module 308 can be configured to derive orharvest power from the recovered NFC communication signal 354 to providea harvested NFC power 358. In an exemplary embodiment, the NFC powerharvesting module 308 can include a rectifier to rectify the recoveredNFC communication signal 354 to provide rectified NFC power. In oneexemplary embodiment, the NFC power harvesting module 308 canadditionally include a regulator to regulate the rectified NFC power toprovide the harvested NFC power 358. In some situations, the harvestedNFC power 358 can be provided to other modules of the WPT/NFC enabledcommunication device over a communication interface, such as theFEM-CTRLR communication interface 262 to provide an example.

The WPT power harvesting module 310 can be configured to derive orharvest power from the recovered WPT signal 360 to provide harvested WPTpower 362. In one exemplary embodiment, the WPT power harvesting module310 can include a rectifier to rectify the recovered WPT signal 360 toprovide rectified WPT power. In one exemplary embodiment, the WPT powerharvesting module 310 can additionally include a regulator to regulatethe rectified WPT power to provide the harvested WPT power 362. In somesituations, the harvested WPT power 362 can be provided to other modulesof the WPT/NFC enabled communication device over a communicationinterface, such as the FEM-CI communication interface 256 to provide anexample.

WPT and NFC communications work generally on the principle of resonantinductive coupling. Resonant inductive coupling is the near fieldwireless transmission of electrical energy between two coils that aretuned to resonate at the same or very similar frequency. In practice, aWPT/NFC enabled device can act as a WPT/NFC transmitter by applying anoscillating current to a coil to create an oscillating magnetic field.Another WPT/NFC enabled device having a coil resonating at the same orsimilar frequency as the oscillating magnetic field that is placed inthe oscillating magnetic field near the WPT/NFC transmitter can couplewith the WPT/NFC transmitter picking up energy and/or information fromthe oscillating magnetic field. Typically WPT and NFC operate atdifferent resonant frequencies, although in some instances, WPT and NRCresonant frequencies can coexist. In one exemplary embodiment, WPTcommunications operate at 100-250 kHz or 6.7 MHz while NFCcommunications operate at 13.56 MHz.

FIG. 4a illustrates an exemplary antenna module 400 that can beimplemented within an exemplary WPT/NFC enabled communication device(such as WPT/NFC enabled communication devices 100 and/or 200) accordingto exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure. The antenna module400 can include a single inductive coupling element 402 and a resonantcircuit 404. The resonant circuit 404 can be configured to tune thesingle inductive coupling element 402 to resonate at two or moredistinct frequencies, one suitable for WPT communication and anothersuitable for NFC communication. For example, the resonant circuit 404could be configured to tune the single inductive coupling element 402 toresonate at 100-250 kHz or 6.7 MHz for WPT communications and 13.56 MHzfor NFC communications. In one, exemplary embodiment, the singleinductive coupling element 402 may comprise a coil.

In this embodiment, the WPT/NFC enabled communication device can beconfigured to communicate with another WPT and/or NFC enabled devicethrough resonant inductive coupling. For example, WPT and/or NFC enabledcommunication device 408 can be configured as a transmitter/receiverhaving an inductive coupling element 410 tuned to resonate at apredetermined frequency. In one exemplary embodiment, the inductivecoupling element 410 can be capacitively loaded with a resistance 412and capacitance 414 so as to form a tuned resonant circuit. When currentis applied to the inductive coupling element 410, an oscillatingmagnetic field indicative of a WPT and/or NFC communication signal canbe created at a carrier frequency determined by the tuned resonantcircuit. In sample embodiments, the tuned resonant circuit can beconfigured to create a communication signal with a resonant frequencysuitable for WPT and/or NFC such as 100-250 kHz, 6.7 MHz and/orapproximately 13.56 MHz, for example.

The antenna module 400 can be configured to receive the communicationsignal from the WPT and/or NFC enabled communication device 408 bytuning the inductive coupling element 402 to the resonant frequency ofthe WPT and/or NFC enabled communication device 408 and placing theinductive coupling element 402 near the inductive coupling element 410in the oscillating magnetic field. A current indicative of the WPTand/or NFC communication signal generated by WPT and/or NFC enabledcommunication device 408 will be induced in inductive coupling element402 when it is placed in the oscillating magnetic field near theinductive coupling element 410 and tuned to the resonant frequency ofthe oscillating magnetic field by the resonant circuit 404. The WPTand/or NFC communication signal can be received by the antenna module400 in the form of this induced current, and the received communicationsignal 416 can be passed along to an NFC/WPT module (such as NFC/WPTmodule 102) for processing.

The resonant circuit 404 can be configured to tune inductive couplingelement 402 to the same or similar frequency as the resonant frequencyof the oscillating magnetic field. Resonant circuit 404 can beconfigured to tune the single inductive coupling element 402 to any oneof multiple frequencies suitable for receiving and/or transmitting WPTand/or NFC communications. In one exemplary embodiment, resonant circuit404 can be configured to switch the resonant frequency of inductivecoupling element 402 between various WPT and/or NFC frequencies until anoscillating magnetic field of matching resonant frequency is found andthen maintaining the matched resonant frequency long enough to receive acommunication message. In another exemplary embodiment, resonant circuit404 can be configured to sense the presence of an oscillating magneticfield, determine the resonant frequency of the oscillating magneticfield, and tune inductive coupling element 402 to the resonant frequencyof the oscillating magnetic field long enough to receive a communicationmessage.

Additionally, the antenna module 400 can be configured operate in atransmit mode to provide a transmitted NFC communication signal. Intransmit mode, resonant circuit 404 can be configured to receive an NFCcommunication signal 416 from the NFC/WPT module (such as NFC/WPT module102) and tune the inductive coupling element 402 to produce anoscillating magnetic field that resonates at a predetermined resonancefrequency which can be used to transmit the NFC communication signal toanother NFC enabled device. In this exemplary embodiment, WPT and/or NFCenabled communication device 408 may operate as an NFC receiver. In thisexemplary embodiment, inductive coupling element 410 of the WPT and/orNFC enabled communication device 408 may, when placed in proximity toinductive coupling element 402 in the oscillating magnetic field andtuned to the resonant frequency of the oscillating magnetic field,produce an induced current indicative of the NFC communication signaltransmitted by the antenna module 400.

FIGS. 4b and 4c illustrate other exemplary antenna modules 418 and 432that can be implemented within an exemplary WPT/NFC enabledcommunication device (such as devices 100 and/or 200) according toexemplary embodiments of the present disclosure. In these exemplaryembodiments, the antenna modules 418 and 432 can include a singleinductive coupling element 420, an NFC resonant circuit 422, and a WPTresonant circuit 424. NFC resonant circuit 422 can be configured to tunethe single inductive coupling element 420 to resonate at a frequencysuitable for NFC communications, for example 13.56 MHz, and WPT resonantcircuit 424 can be configured to tune the single inductive couplingelement 420 to resonate at a frequency for WPT communication, forexample 100-250 kHz. In one, exemplary embodiment, single inductivecoupling element 420 may comprise a coil.

In these embodiments, the WPT/NFC enabled communication device can beconfigured to communicate with another WPT and/or NFC enabled devicethrough resonant inductive coupling. For example, WPT and/or NFC enabledcommunication device 408 can be configured as a transmitter having aninductive coupling element 410 tuned to resonate at a predeterminedfrequency. In one exemplary embodiment, inductive coupling element 410can be capacitively loaded with a resistance 412 and capacitance 414 soas to form a tuned resonant circuit. When current is applied to theinductive coupling element 410, an oscillating magnetic field indicativeof a WPT and/or NFC communication signal can be created at a carrierfrequency determined by the tuned resonant circuit. In sampleembodiments, the tuned resonant circuit can be configured to create acommunication signal with a resonant frequency suitable for WPT and/orNFC such as 100-250 kHz, 6.7 MHz and/or approximately 13.56 MHz, forexample.

Antenna modules 418 and 432 can be configured to receive thecommunication signal from device 408 by tuning single inductive couplingelement 420 to the resonant frequency of device 408 and placing thesingle inductive coupling element 420 near inductive coupling element410 in the oscillating magnetic field. A current indicative of the WPTand/or NFC communication signal generated by WPT and/or NFC enabledcommunication device 408 will be induced in inductive coupling element420 when it is placed in the oscillating magnetic field near inductivecoupling element 410 and tuned to the resonant frequency of theoscillating magnetic field by the resonant circuit 404. The WPT and/orNFC communication signal can be received by the antenna module 418 inthe form of this induced current and the received communication signal426 or 428 can be passed along to an NFC/WPT module (such as NFC/WPTmodule 102) for processing.

The NFC resonant circuit 422 can be configured to tune inductivecoupling element 420 to a frequency suitable for NFC communication andthe WPT resonant circuit 424 can be configured to tune single inductivecoupling element 420 to a frequency suitable for WPT communication. IfWPT and/or NFC communication device 408 produces a WPT communicationsignal in the oscillating magnetic field at a frequency suitable for WPTcommunication, WPT resonant circuit 424 of antenna module 418 or 432 cantune the single inductive coupling element 420 to the same or similarfrequency as the resonant frequency of the oscillating magnetic field sothat a current indicative of the WPT communication signal is induced insingle inductive coupling element 420 when it is placed in proximity toinductive coupling element 410 in the oscillating magnetic field. Inthis way, the WPT communication signal can be received by antenna module418 or 432 in the form of this induced current and the received WPTcommunication signal 428 can be passed along to the NFC/WPT module (suchas NFC/WPT module 102). If WPT and/or NFC communication device 408produces an NFC communication signal in oscillating magnetic field at afrequency suitable for NFC communication, NFC resonant circuit 422 ofantenna module 418 or 432 can tune single inductive coupling element 420to the same or similar frequency as the resonant frequency of theoscillating magnetic field so that a current indicative of the NFCcommunication signal is induced in single inductive coupling element 420when it is placed in proximity to inductive coupling element 410 in theoscillating magnetic field. In this way, the NFC communication signalcan be received by antenna module 418 or 432 in the form of this inducedcurrent and the received NFC communication signal 426 can be passedalong to the NFC/WPT module (such as NFC/WPT module 102).

In one exemplary embodiment, antenna module 418 can include a filter 430to sense the presence of an oscillating magnetic field, determine theresonant frequency of the oscillating magnetic field, and signal eitherthe NFC resonant circuit 422 or the WPT resonant circuit 424 to tuneinductive coupling element 420 to the resonant frequency of theoscillating magnetic field long enough to receive a communicationmessage. In another exemplary embodiment, antenna module 432 can includea switch network 434 which can be configured to switch between the NFCresonant circuit 422 and the WPT resonant circuit 424 such that theresonant frequency of inductive coupling element 420 is switched betweenvarious WPT and/or NFC frequencies until an oscillating magnetic fieldof matching resonant frequency is found. The switch network 434 can beconfigured to then maintain the matched resonant frequency long enoughto receive a communication message.

Additionally, the antenna modules 418 and 432 can be configured operatein a transmit mode to provide a transmitted NFC communication signal. Intransmit mode, filter 430 or switch network 434 can signal the NFCresonant circuit 422 to tune the single inductive coupling element 420to produce an oscillating magnetic field that resonates at apredetermined resonance frequency which can be used to transmit an NFCcommunication signal 426 from the NFC/WPT module (such as NFC/WPT module102) to another NFC enabled device. In this exemplary embodiment, WPTand/or NFC enabled communication device 408 may operate as an NFCreceiver. In this exemplary embodiment, inductive coupling element 410of the WPT and/or NFC enabled communication device 408 may, when placedin proximity to single inductive coupling element 420 in the oscillatingmagnetic field and tuned to the resonant frequency of the oscillatingmagnetic field, produce an induced current indicative of the NFCcommunication signal 426 transmitted by antenna module 418 or 432.

FIG. 5 illustrates one exemplary embodiment of a dual resonant circuit500, such as resonant circuit 404, for WPT and/or NFC communicationsaccording to various embodiment of the present disclosure. The dualresonant circuit 500 can comprise an Rx coil 502 and two resonantcapacitances 504 and 506. Resonant capacitance 504 can be used toenhance WPT efficiency. Resonant capacitance 506 can be used to enableresonant detection at the appropriate frequency. An option outputdisconnect switch 508 can be included. If the switch 508 is included,the wireless power receiver, such as WPT Power Harvesting module 310,may operate the output disconnect switch 508 any time while the WPTtransmitter applies a power signal. This can enable the wireless powerreceiver to keep its output connected if it reverts from a powertransfer phase to an identification and configuration phase. If theoutput disconnect switch 508 is not included, the capacitance can be afixed connection to the Rx coil 502.

While various embodiments of the present disclosure have been describedabove in the context of a wireless communication device operative inadjacent LTE and Industrial Scientific Medical (ISM) bands, it should beunderstood that they have been presented by way of example only, and notof limitation. For example, the systems and methods described herein maybe applied to the same or other communication standards operative inadjacent or otherwise coexistent frequency bands, such as certain LTEand GNSS bands. It should be further understood that more or lesscircuitry, elements, such as radios, filters, switches, etc. may beimplemented in a wireless communication device to effectuatecommunications over a variety of standards, protocols, etc. inaccordance with various embodiments.

Likewise, the various diagrams may depict an example architectural orother configuration for the various embodiments, which is done to aid inunderstanding the features and functionality that can be included inembodiments. The present disclosure is not restricted to the illustratedexample architectures or configurations, but the desired features can beimplemented using a variety of alternative architectures andconfigurations. Indeed, it will be apparent to one of skill in the arthow alternative functional, logical or physical partitioning andconfigurations can be implemented to implement various embodiments.Also, a multitude of different constituent module names other than thosedepicted herein can be applied to the various partitions. Additionally,with regard to flow diagrams, operational descriptions and methodclaims, the order in which the steps are presented herein shall notmandate that various embodiments be implemented to perform the recitedfunctionality in the same order unless the context dictates otherwise.

It should be understood that the various features, aspects and/orfunctionality described in one or more of the individual embodiments arenot limited in their applicability to the particular embodiment withwhich they are described, but instead can be applied, alone or invarious combinations, to one or more of the other embodiments, whetheror not such embodiments are described and whether or not such features,aspects and/or functionality are presented as being a part of adescribed embodiment. Thus, the breadth and scope of the presentdisclosure should not be limited by any of the above-described exemplaryembodiments.

Terms and phrases used in this document, and variations thereof, unlessotherwise expressly stated, should be construed as open ended as opposedto limiting. As examples of the foregoing: the term “including” shouldbe read as meaning “including, without limitation” or the like; theterms “example” or “exemplary” are used to provide exemplary instancesof the item in discussion, not an exhaustive or limiting list thereof;the terms “a” or “an” should be read as meaning “at least one,” “one ormore” or the like; and adjectives such as “conventional,” “traditional,”“normal,” “standard,” “known” and terms of similar meaning should not beconstrued as limiting the item described to a given time period or to anitem available as of a given time, but instead should be read toencompass conventional, traditional, normal, or standard technologiesthat may be available or known now or at any time in the future.Likewise, where this document refers to technologies that would beapparent or known to one of ordinary skill in the art, such technologiesencompass those apparent or known to the skilled artisan now or at anytime in the future.

Additionally, the various embodiments set forth herein are described interms of exemplary block diagrams, flow charts and other illustrations.As will become apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art afterreading this document, the illustrated embodiments and their variousalternatives can be implemented without confinement to the illustratedexamples. For example, block diagrams and their accompanying descriptionshould not be construed as mandating a particular architecture orconfiguration.

Moreover, various embodiments described herein are described in thegeneral context of method steps or processes, which may be implementedin one embodiment by a computer program product, embodied in, e.g., anon-transitory computer-readable memory, including computer-executableinstructions, such as program code, executed by computers in networkedenvironments. A computer-readable memory may include removable andnon-removable storage devices including, but not limited to, Read OnlyMemory (ROM), Random Access Memory (RAM), compact discs (CDs), digitalversatile discs (DVD), etc. Generally, program modules may includeroutines, programs, objects, components, data structures, etc. thatperform particular tasks or implement particular abstract data types.Computer-executable instructions, associated data structures, andprogram modules represent examples of program code for executing stepsof the methods disclosed herein. The particular sequence of suchexecutable instructions or associated data structures representsexamples of corresponding acts for implementing the functions describedin such steps or processes.

As used herein, the term module can describe a given unit offunctionality that can be performed in accordance with one or moreembodiments. As used herein, a module might be implemented utilizing anyform of hardware, software, or a combination thereof. For example, oneor more processors, controllers, ASICs, PLAs, PALs, CPLDs, FPGAs,logical components, software routines or other mechanisms might beimplemented to make up a module. In implementation, the various modulesdescribed herein might be implemented as discrete modules or thefunctions and features described can be shared in part or in total amongone or more modules. In other words, as would be apparent to one ofordinary skill in the art after reading this description, the variousfeatures and functionality described herein may be implemented in anygiven application and can be implemented in one or more separate orshared modules in various combinations and permutations. Even thoughvarious features or elements of functionality may be individuallydescribed or claimed as separate modules, one of ordinary skill in theart will understand that these features and functionality can be sharedamong one or more common software and hardware elements, and suchdescription shall not require or imply that separate hardware orsoftware components are used to implement such features orfunctionality. Where components or modules of the invention areimplemented in whole or in part using software, in one embodiment, thesesoftware elements can be implemented to operate with a computing orprocessing module capable of carrying out the functionality describedwith respect thereto. The presence of broadening words and phrases suchas “one or more,” “at least,” “but not limited to” or other like phrasesin some instances shall not be read to mean that the narrower case isintended or required in instances where such broadening phrases may beabsent.

What is claimed is:
 1. A wireless power transfer and near fieldcommunication (WPT/NFC) enabled communication device, comprising: aresonant circuit configured to tune an inductive coupling element to aWPT frequency or to an NFC frequency; and a processor configured to:cause the resonant circuit to tune the inductive coupling element toapproximately the WPT frequency such that a first current, indicative ofa WPT communication signal, is induced in the inductive coupling elementwhen the WPT/NFC enabled communication device is placed in a firstmagnetic field; and cause the resonant circuit to tune the inductivecoupling element to approximately the NFC frequency such that a secondcurrent, indicative of an NFC communication signal, is induced in theinductive coupling element when the WPT/NFC enabled communication deviceis placed in a second magnetic field.
 2. The WPT/NFC enabledcommunication device of claim 1, wherein the processor is configured tocause the resonant circuit to tune its resonant frequency from among aplurality of frequencies until the resonant frequency matches the WPTfrequency or the NFC frequency.
 3. The WPT/NFC enabled communicationdevice of claim 1, wherein the resonant circuit is further configured toreceive the WPT communication signal or the NFC communication signalfrom a second WPT/NFC enabled communication device communicativelycoupled to the WPT/NFC enabled communication device.
 4. The WPT/NFCenabled communication device of claim 1, wherein the resonant circuit isfurther configured to transmit the WPT communication signal or the NFCcommunication signal to a second WPT/NFC enabled communication devicecommunicatively coupled to the WPT/NFC enabled communication device. 5.The WPT/NFC enabled communication device of claim 1, further comprising:a WPT/NFC module configured to process the WPT communication signal andthe NFC communication signal.
 6. The WPT/NFC enabled communicationdevice of claim 5, wherein the WPT/NFC module is further configured toreceive the first current when the inductive coupling element is tunedto approximately the WPT frequency or the second current when theinductive coupling element is tuned to approximately the NFC frequency.7. The WPT/NFC enabled communication device of claim 6, wherein theWPT/NFC module is further configured to transmit the first current whenthe inductive coupling element is tuned to approximately the WPTfrequency or the second current when the inductive coupling element istuned to approximately the NFC frequency.
 8. A wireless power transferand near field communication (WPT/NFC) enabled communication device,comprising: a plurality of resonant circuits configured to tune aninductive coupling element to a WPT frequency or to an NFC frequency;and a processor configured to: cause a first resonant circuit from amonga plurality of resonant circuits to tune the inductive coupling elementto approximately the WPT frequency such that a first current, indicativeof a WPT communication signal, is induced in the inductive couplingelement when the WPT/NFC enabled communication device is placed in afirst magnetic field; and cause a second resonant circuit from among aplurality of resonant circuits to tune the inductive coupling element toapproximately the NFC frequency such that a second current, indicativeof an NFC communication signal, is induced in the inductive couplingelement when the WPT/NFC enabled communication device is placed in asecond magnetic field.
 9. The WPT/NFC enabled communication device ofclaim 8, wherein the processor is configured to cause the first resonantcircuit to tune its resonant frequency from among a plurality offrequencies until a first resonant frequency matches the WPT frequencyor the second resonant circuit to tune its resonant frequency from amonga second plurality of frequencies until a second resonant frequencymatches the NFC frequency.
 10. The WPT/NFC enabled communication deviceof claim 8, wherein the first resonant circuit is further configured toreceive the WPT communication signal from a second WPT/NFC enabledcommunication device communicatively coupled to the WPT/NFC enabledcommunication device, and wherein the second resonant circuit is furtherconfigured to receive the NFC communication signal from the secondWPT/NFC enabled communication device communicatively coupled to theWPT/NFC enabled communication device.
 11. The WPT/NFC enabledcommunication device of claim 8, wherein the first resonant circuit isfurther configured to transmit the WPT communication signal to a secondWPT/NFC enabled communication device communicatively coupled to theWPT/NFC enabled communication device, and wherein the second resonantcircuit is further configured to transmit the NFC communication signalto the second WPT/NFC enabled communication device.
 12. The WPT/NFCenabled communication device of claim 8, further comprising: a WPT/NFCmodule configured to process the WPT communication signal and the NFCcommunication signal.
 13. The WPT/NFC enabled communication device ofclaim 12, wherein the WPT/NFC module is further configured to receivethe first current when the inductive coupling element is tuned toapproximately the WPT frequency or the second current when the inductivecoupling element is tuned to approximately the NFC frequency.
 14. TheWPT/NFC enabled communication device of claim 12, wherein the WPT/NFCmodule is further configured to transmit the first current when theinductive coupling element is tuned to approximately the WPT frequencyor the second current when the inductive coupling element is tuned toapproximately the NFC frequency.
 15. A method, comprising: receiving afirst magnetic field; tuning an inductive coupling element to a WirelessPower Transfer (WPT) frequency, wherein the WPT frequency isapproximately equal to a frequency of the first magnetic field;recovering a power signal present in the first magnetic field; receivinga second magnetic field; and tuning the inductive coupling element to aNear Field Communication (NFC) frequency, wherein the first NFCfrequency is approximately equal to a frequency of the second magneticfield.
 16. The method of claim 15, wherein the tuning the inductivecoupling element to the WPT frequency comprises: tuning a resonantfrequency of the inductive coupling element from among a plurality offrequencies until the resonant frequency matches the WPT frequency. 17.The method of claim 15, wherein the tuning the inductive couplingelement to the NFC frequency comprises: tuning a resonant frequency ofthe inductive coupling element from among a plurality of frequenciesuntil the resonant frequency matches the NFC frequency.
 18. The methodof claim 15, wherein the receiving the first magnetic field comprises:inducing a first current onto the inductive coupling element, andwherein the receiving the second magnetic field comprises: inducing asecond current onto the inductive coupling element.
 19. The method ofclaim 18, further comprising: charging a battery using the firstcurrent.
 20. The method of claim 18, further comprising: recoveringinformation from the second current.